Rada’s EU Integration Committee, EUAM Ukraine make Ukraine-Poland border assessment visit

That’s according to the EUAM press service, Ukrinform reports.

The visit focused on the possible needs to increase capacity, strengthen security, improve infrastructure, and establish closer inter-agency coordination, as well as the prospects of international support for cross-border cooperation from the European Union and other international partners.

Members of the delegation were joined by representatives of ministries and departments, regional authorities, the European Commission, Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, EU projects dealing with integrated border management issues, as well as the International Organization for Migration.

The delegation visited border crossing points Yahodyn, Uhryniv, Krakivets, and Shehyni, where issues of phitosanitary and veterinary control were studied, as well as the infrastructure of the said facilities.

During an on-site meeting of the Rada Committee, tasks were discussed of improving the operation of the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing points as particular attention was paid to the progress of implementation of the Strategy of Integrated Border Management, support from the European Union, and the possibility of joint control on the Ukrainian-Polish border.

"Based on the outcome of the joint visit with the EUAM Ukraine and the on-site meeting of the Committee in Lviv, we will prepare official recommendations for central and regional authorities about what can be decided at the legislative and executive levels, and in close cooperation between the Ukrainian and Polish governments with the involvement of the European Commission," said Committee chair Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze.

In turn, Joerg Einemann, EUAM Head of Integrated Border Management unit, said: "EUAM Ukraine will continue to provide strategic advice and support to the Ukrainian government, the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service of Ukraine in performing tasks related to simplifying trade procedures and acquiring the status of a candidate for EU accession.”

In this context, he added, the parties discussed the importance of the implementation of the legal norms of the European Union in the legislation of Ukraine, coordinated efforts to develop border crossing points and compliance of border and customs control procedures with EU standards.

As a good example of such inter-agency and international cooperation and information exchange, he cited the Ukrainian-Romanian-Moldovan customs working group initiated by the EUAM Ukraine.

“In the future, we plan to invite representatives of Slovakia and Poland into it," stressed Einemann.

Memo: European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine is a civilian Common Security and Defense Policy mission of the European Union. It aims to assist Ukrainian authorities to reform civilian security sector. 

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and ensuing evacuation, EUAM resumed its operations in Kyiv in May of the same year.

Photo by EUAM